Abstract: Roles of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the central nervous system: Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) have long been recognized for their critical role as precursors to oligodendrocytes, the primary myelin- producing cells. As precursors, OPCs mature and differentiate into oligodendrocytes, which contribute significantly to the formation of myelin sheaths around axons. This myelination, which is critical for the conduction of salutatory nerve impulses in the cerebral white matter, underscores the classical role of oligodendrocytes in central nervous system (CNS) functionality. Importantly, because oligodendrocytes are differentiated cells that cannot proliferate, OPCs are responsible for increasing and maintaining the number of oligodendrocytes. In addition, a subset of OPCs is known to remain in their precursor state even in the adult brain. In response to developmental cues or brain injury, OPCs exhibit remarkable plasticity – migrating to specific brain regions, proliferating, and differentiating into mature, functional oligodendrocytes.